Violin training with a magnetostrictive actuator

Professional players claim that stringed musical instruments exhibit better acoustic behaviour if they are frequently played. Although in literature there is no clear relationship between these phenomena, this work aims to develop a device capable of “making a violin sound” autonomously, so that it can always be kept in optimal conditions. The paper shows the design aspects of the magnetostrictive actuator, its operating principle, the prototype development and the experimental characterization. The prototype is then mounted on a new violin, simulating its continuous use for a week. During the test the acoustic measurements showed a large change in the acoustic response of the instrument, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the magnetostrictive actuator in the training of a stringed instrument.